The other day, I woke up and immediately said to my husband, “Looks like it’s Groundhog Day…again.” Have you thought that lately? That you’re stuck in the movie of Groundhog Day? Each day is the same as the one before it?

If you have seen the movie Groundhog Day, you know the reference. A grouchy news broadcaster, Phil Connors, is pretty cynical and self-serving. He wakes up each day only to find he is repeating the day before it. He starts to lose hope that anything will change, feeling isolated and miserable. Maybe that sounds familiar.

That’s how it was starting to feel for me. Same homeschool situation. Same house chores to complete each day. Same attempt at working from home. Same walls surrounding us. I let myself believe that each day had nothing new to offer. It would simply be the same as the one before it. Unless I made the choice for something to change.

In the movie, Phil had previously made life choices according to what would serve himself best. Until he realized that didn’t actually bring him joy. So he decided to change things up a bit. On his “last” Groundhog Day, he decided to do something different. Give 100% at his job. Learn a new language. Help strangers who needed help. Learn to play an instrument. Treat people well.  And he ended up going to sleep that night feeling exhausted, yet grateful and content. And that choice to “seize the day” made all the difference.

This season of isolation will eventually come to an end. And when it does, we will look back and see how we spent our time. Did we spend it watching a show about a guy who owned tigers while binge-eating junk food? Did we complain about our government leaders or the people we are quarantined with? Did we feel sorry for ourselves and spend our time waiting for it to be over?

Or…

• • Did we reach out to those in need?
  • Did we check in on our vulnerable neighbors?
  • Did we learn something new?
  • Did we some how better ourselves?
  • Did we find community, even in isolation?
  • Did we grow in our relationship with Jesus?

You see, what I had forgotten was that each day is still a gift—even in isolation. I needed to be reminded that God is still in control, and he still has a plan for our lives—even though our days look different. So there is no need to dread each morning that may look eerily similar to the one before it. We have the choice to make these moments matter. So the question is, what will you do with the moments you have been given?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:8-10

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 

making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. –Ephesians 5:15-17

-Wendy